Ultimate Guide to Strong Lidocaine Creams

Applying some numbing cream to your skin before minor cosmetic treatments or body alterations is a terrific idea to make the process less painful. For a brief time, numbing creams can prevent skin nerves from transmitting pain signals to the brain. When you check the contents of most numbing creams in the market today, you will often see lidocaine listed as an active ingredient. 

Lidocaine is an anesthetic that temporarily impairs skin sensation. It is usually used to relieve pain and itching that come with skin injuries and disorders, including burns, wounds, scrapes, and eczema. The use of lidocaine is frequently employed throughout a variety of minor surgical procedures. It is most frequently used on the skin prior to getting pierced, waxed, or tattooed. 

Even at low lidocaine concentrations, the chemical will still modestly reduce the skin’s sensitivity to pain. However, a stronger numbing cream with a higher concentration of lidocaine is what you need if you’re anxious about your treatments. If you are looking for a lidocaine cream that you can use to ease minor pains before certain procedures, we are here to help you. In this post, we are giving you the ultimate guide to strong lidocaine creams.

What is Lidocaine?

person holding a tube of lidocaine

Lidocaine is an anesthetic that causes loss of feeling in the skin and surrounding tissues. It is commonly used to prevent and treat pain from some procedures. Additionally, it is employed in the treatment of small burns, scratches, and insect bites. Lidocaine cream is available as an over-the-counter medication, which can be used to help with itchiness, insect bites, scrapes, and burns. [1]

Lidocaine creams are used topically. A medical practitioner may apply it and utilize it in the nose, mouth, or throat as well. However, it is important to talk to a pediatrician regarding the use of lidocaine creams in children. 

How Does Lidocaine Work?

a bottle of lidocaine

Lidocaine works by blocking sodium channels, which decreases the rate of contractions in the heart. When a substance is administered locally to numb the brain, local neurons cannot communicate with the brain. Lidocaine is considered one of the most effective, essential, and safe medicines that are used today. It is available as a generic medication, and it is not very expensive. 

When lidocaine is injected, its numbing effects work fast, in just about four minutes, and it can last from half an hour up to three hours. The higher the dose, the longer the numbing effects will last. Lidocaine creams, on the other hand, may take around 30 minutes before it works. The cream may stay on for an hour, and it will keep working for another hour after it comes off. You may also keep the tube of numbing cream to use again if needed.

Things to Consider When Buying Lidocaine Cream

Things to Consider When Buying Lidocaine Cream

Even though people having minor medical and cosmetic operations frequently use lidocaine creams or numbing creams, there are a number of factors you should take into account before purchasing one. Here are a few examples:

Purpose

There are numbing creams that serve many purposes and can be applied during various treatments. But there are particular brands of numbing cream that you must search for that contain benzocaine if you want to use it to numb your mouth. Thus, when purchasing a lidocaine cream, be certain of its intended use and select it accordingly.

Active Ingredients

Topical numbing creams’ numbing component is lidocaine. Around 5% of lidocaine is the optimal concentration. Additionally, you should make sure the pH level is lower than 7, especially if you plan to use it for a tattoo session. It’s because alkaline substances can deteriorate tattoo ink.

Guidelines

The majority of topical numbing creams can be purchased at any pharmacy without a prescription. However, when using them, you must make sure that you adhere to all instructions. Additionally, before using any kind of over-the-counter lidocaine cream, it is crucial to speak with your doctor if you have any medical issues or are taking any drugs.

Quality

Not all lidocaine creams available on the market are effective at effectively numbing the skin. To achieve the finest results, it is crucial to use the right numbing creams or ointments. Try to study customer evaluations and conduct research to accomplish this. The FDA and other medical organizations should also have given their approval before the product is released.

Not for Big Surgeries

Lidocaine creams sold over the counter should only be used for simple operations. Major operations cannot be performed with them because anesthesia is needed by doctors in certain situations.

Pros and Cons

It is also wise to be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of lidocaine creams before using them. As long as you use numbing creams properly and take all necessary measures, they typically have no negative effects. It’s because improper usage of them could cause your skin to become red, irritated, or feel burning. Additionally, bear in mind that while certain numbing creams may take a long time to work, others may do so quickly.

person rubbing cream on his arm

Strong Lidocaine Creams Available in the Market

There are a lot of options when it comes to buying lidocaine creams. However, if you are looking for the strongest ones that you can buy over the counter, below are some examples that you might want to check out:

LMX 4 Topical Anesthetic Cream

The amount of lidocaine in the LMX 4 Topical Anesthetic cream is not the highest. However, the quality of this item is excellent. You must keep in mind that not all treatments or procedures necessitate the use of the most potent lidocaine solution. For instance, this LMX cream works wonders to numb minor wounds, including cuts, abrasions, sunburns, and bug bites. 

For certain irritations, you don’t necessarily need to switch off all of your pain sensitivity. However, the LMX 4 topical anesthetic is unquestionably potent enough to be utilized for piercings and tattoos. It is strongly recommended because it is of the best quality.

  • 4% lidocaine content
  • Fast-acting, long-lasting
  • Cream

Numb Master Lidocaine Topical Numbing Cream

One of the strongest lidocaine creams available over-the-counter is Numb Master. This lidocaine cream, which was created especially for body waxing, piercings, and tattoos, is a potent anesthetic. The cream’s finest effects will become noticeable within 20 to 25 minutes of application, and they will continue for roughly an hour. 

Usually, you will experience numbness for a longer amount of time, but after an hour, you will start to feel pain again. The majority of operations that could be uncomfortable on the skin can be used with this potent lidocaine cream due to its adaptability. Just be sure to remove any cream residue when it has finished working.

  • 5% lidocaine content
  • Long-lasting
  • With vitamin E, aloe vera, lecithin
  • Topical cream

Uber Numb Lidocaine Topical Cream

Uber Numb is a premium over-the-counter cream with a significant amount of lidocaine. Many people believe that products made in the USA will be of the highest quality. This cream’s ability to alleviate inflammation after the application is one of its distinctive qualities. 

This cream can stop the pain if you have an inflammatory skin disease or are getting a tattoo that might irritate your skin. Being water-based, the formula is also not at all greasy, oily, or sticky. Because of the cream’s smoothness, the application is significantly more convenient and clean-up-free. 

  • 5% lidocaine content
  • Fast-acting
  • Non-oily
  • Topical cream

Advanced Numb Lidocaine Pain Relief Cream

This numbing cream is used by those looking for super-strong pain relief. It contains 5% lidocaine, which is the highest dose allowed by the FDA for a non-prescription anesthetic. It works as fast as 25 minutes and keeps your skin numb for an hour. It also contains vitamin E, which can help reduce inflammation. It can also be used to relieve swelling and prevent itchy flaking. It has a non-oily formula, and it will not stain your clothes or bedding.

  • 5% lidocaine content
  • Fast-acting
  • Non-oily
  • USA made

Icy Hot Max Strength Pain Relief Cream

Icy Hot is one of the leading brands of OTC topical analgesics for pain relief. Each product the brand offers has its own strengths, but the Icy Hot Maximum Strength, No-Mess Pain Relief Cream is particularly well known for its long-lasting pain relief and no-mess application method. 

After being administered, the cream quickly gets to work and enters the nerves, providing immediate pain relief within a short period of time. The cream’s effects last for hours, which increases its dependability. For small aches and pains, including knee, muscular, back, and more, the cream is highly beneficial.

  • 4% lidocaine, 11% camphor, 16% menthol
  • Fast-acting
  • Mess-free application

Ebanel Lidocaine Numbing Cream

This cream works quickly to ease pain and contains no more than 5% lidocaine. Within a short period of time, the region becomes numb. In just two to three minutes, the numbing strength reaches its peak and lasts for roughly an hour. 

The cream shields the skin from irritation with the help of aloe vera gel, vitamin E, and other moisturizing ingredients. Doctors advise using this cream on all skin types because it is also non-greasy and odorless. The water-based formula of the Ebanel 5% lidocaine Topical Numbing Cream facilitates simple application and mess-free removal.

  • 5% lidocaine
  • Fast-acting
  • Long-lasting effect
  • Non-greasy

Lidocaine Cream Precautions

person putting some cream on the knee

Lidocaine creams that are bought over the counter are generally safe to use. However, precautions are needed for some people. For instance, if it is going to be used on children, do not use a dose larger than what the doctor or the manufacturer recommends when applying the cream to large areas of injured skin. Also, do not let your child rub or scratch the skin while it is numb, and avoid letting the skin get very cold or very hot. You need to remember that when using lidocaine cream, heat sources like heating pads and electric blankets should be avoided, as they may cause further issues. [2]

It is generally considered safe to use lidocaine cream for pregnant people. However, you need to be cautious as the cream cross through the placenta. Therefore, you need to avoid lidocaine creams that have high doses. Better yet, consult your doctor first before using any product if you are pregnant.

There are different strengths of lidocaine cream, and it should be applied in smaller doses for older adults, depending on their physical condition and age. This is an important precaution as an individual’s physical makeup, the concentration of lidocaine, and the formulation of the drug all have significant effects on the amount of cream that gets absorbed into the blood. People who have severe shock or heart block should also be cautious when using these products. [2]

While over-the-counter lidocaine creams are generally safe for all, their use should still be supervised by a healthcare professional to prevent toxic effects.

Conclusion

The use of lidocaine creams is definitely beneficial when preparing for painful medical and aesthetic treatments. There are numerous OTC lidocaine cream choices available, so you can guarantee painless operations. To achieve the best results, just be sure to select powerful and high-quality creams. 

Also, do not forget to read and follow the directions on how to use or apply the product on your skin to avoid problems. Contact your doctor straight away if the condition continues or gets worse. Do not use any of these medications without first talking to your doctor if you have any allergies or illnesses. We hope this post helped you learn more about strong lidocaine creams. 

References

[1] Cleveland Clinic, E. (2022). Lidocaine skin cream or ointment. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved December 15, 2022, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/19854-lidocaine-skin-cream-or-ointment 

[2] Schantz-Feld, M. (2022, December 1). What should I know about over-the-counter lidocaine? Verywell Health. Retrieved December 16, 2022, from https://www.verywellhealth.com/over-the-counter-lidocaine-5112585#toc-precautions